Peppers has seen almost everything in 15 years of professional football. He has been to a Super Bowl. He has missed the playoffs. His emotional needle doesn’t easily budge.

For some, the Packers' 33-32 loss Sunday could have been traumatic. Given 75 yards of real estate to keep the Falcons out of the end zone inside the final four minutes, the defense caved. Around Peppers, teammates sunk into folding chairs in front of their lockers, replaying the final moments in their minds.

Peppers tied his shoelace, stood from his seat and, with his bag already packed, was asked whether the Packers — the defense, specifically — took a step back.

“I don’t think so,” he said dismissively. “We don’t take no steps back. Obviously, it’s disappointing, but it’s one game in the big scheme of things. So we’re going to come back, we’re going to get to work, and we’re going to bounce back, like we always do.”

In the big scheme of things, the Packers more or less held serve through the season’s first two months, especially considering how injuries decimated parts of their roster.

That isn’t an easy conclusion to make. Not after a season that started eight weeks ago with legitimate hopes for the NFC’s top overall seed – an ideal path to Super Bowl LI – led to a 4-3 record.

It also won’t be a lasting conclusion if the Packers don’t start stockpiling wins.

Injuries or not, wins and losses are all that matter. The Packers are one of four NFC teams at 4-3. Three teams in the conference have won more games.

“We’re definitely not where we want to be,” defensive tackle Mike Daniels said. “And if you ask any 4-3 team, I’m sure they’ll say the same thing. We’ve just got to get on this film, correct it and get better.”

At a season’s onset, there is no way of knowing how injuries might complicate things. Clearly, the Packers’ weekly medical reports prevented them from settling into a groove. It’s a minor miracle they’ve patched things together as well as they have.

What’s left is a choppy, up-and-down team just trying to survive rough waters. The Packers have not met their loftiest of expectations. Things also could be much worse.

“You could view it that way,” coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. “I just stick to the grind of the path that we’re on. This is a fun football team to coach. They have great energy, they’ve got a great attitude, their work ethic is exceptional. But, frankly, we have a lot of work to do.

“You can see it in practice. We’re not as clean in certain areas that we need to be, it’s not a lack of effort, it’s not a lack of detail, it just kind of is where we are. And whether it’s a combination of injuries, youth, that’s kind of where we are.”

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) expresses his frustration on a dropped pass on 4th down at the end of the game as Atlanta Falcons celebrate l the Green Bay Packers 33-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) expresses his frustration on a dropped pass on 4th down at the end of the game as Atlanta Falcons celebrate l the Green Bay Packers 33-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) fullback Aaron Ripkowski (22) celebrate a two point conversion run by Rodgers in the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Falcons' 33-32 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 30, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers strong safety Micah Hyde (33) is unable to stop Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) on this first down with two minutes left in the game during the Green Bay Packers 33-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) is slow to get up in the fourth quarter near the end of the game during the Green Bay Packers 33-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass on 4th down at the end of the game that is dropped as Atlanta Falcons celebrate the Green Bay Packers 33-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) stretches for a pass, which falls incomplete, late in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

2. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons ($30,000,000 Avg./Year)
The Falcons' quarterback got to enjoy being the highest-paid player
in the league for only a brief time after
signing a five-year, $150 million contract
extension in early May. Ryan also became
the first player in the league to command $30 million
a year. A recent league MVP, Ryan leads the NFL
in yards per attempt over the last three years. Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Dennis Henk and Sandy Henk, from Milwaukee, WI dress up in Halloween costumes as they cheer before the Green Bay Packers NFL game against The Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Jackson Hammett, 9 from Charlestown South Carolina, wishes for a win before the Green Bay Packers NFL game against The Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Seth Franklin, Milwaukee, WI., folds a Packers head band before the Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 30, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Henry and Marg Schlipp, Milwaukee, WI., get into the Halloween sprit as the Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 30, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Cohen Allen and his father Tyler, South Carolina, try to catch a t-shirt before the Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 30, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Mary Mann, Florida, takes a break in the shade before the Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 30, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Audrey Birnbaum and James Allen are from Atlanta but huge Packer fans. Allen is originally from Green Bay, and Birnbaum is from Madison, Wisconsin. They joined other and for a group photo outside construction of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta before the Green Bay Packers NFL game against The Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

James Allen is originally from Green Bay Wisconsin, but lives in Atlanta. In his glasses is a reflection of construction of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta before the Green Bay Packers NFL game against The Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Packer fans arrive at the Georgia Dome outside construction of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta before the Green Bay Packers NFL game against The Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, October 30, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia. Rick Wood /USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

For the most part, the Packers beat teams they’re supposed to beat. Their three losses have come against teams with a 16-5 combined record, including a pair of road losses by a total of four points. Their four wins have come against teams with a combined 11-18 record.

Their final nine opponents this season have a combined record of 34-31-1.

To take a big-picture view is to realize that Sunday's game was a big opportunity lost. Here, finally, was a chance to break serve.

The schedule must be considered when evaluating an NFL team. With a win Sunday, the Packers would have improved to 5-2, but they were staring at a potential 7-2 start to the season. In the next two weeks, the Packers will be clear favorites at home against the Indianapolis Colts and on the road against the Tennessee Titans, opponents who hail from the league’s worst division.

The AFC South is simply deplorable.

Now, at best, the Packers will have a 6-3 record in their first nine games. If Sunday was a chance for a season-defining win, their next tipping point comes in late November. Assuming no surprises against the AFC South, consecutive road trips to NFC East opponents (Washington on Nov. 20, Philadelphia on Nov. 28) become a critical two-game swing.

Win both, and the Packers align themselves for a strong playoff push through December. Lose both, and it could have a devastating effect on their season. To win one and lose another once again would be holding serve.

That’s what the Packers did Sunday in Atlanta. Given a chance to break from their pattern, the Packers lost a game that injuries excused them to lose. For now, it’s not enough to sink their season.

At some point later this fall, that could change.

“It’s tough any time you lose,” Peppers said. “But we ain’t going to make no excuses about it. Ain’t no explanations need to be made. We’ve got to do better, and we’ve got to get the win when we have it in our hands like this.”